IN THE WILD – Our low elevation temperate forests occur from sea level to 1950’. Areas of tall evergreens create deep shade, open areas provide more sun and places in the understory beneath deciduous trees provide dappled shade.

Northwest Forests are usually composed of tall, evergreen trees (Western Red Cedar, Douglas Fir, Western Hemlock) and Big Leaf Maple with smaller deciduous trees growing in sunnier open parts of the woods. (Indian Plum, Crabapple, Serviceberry, Cascara, Vine Maple, Ash and Dogwood to name a few) In the understory are found perennials, ferns and mosses.

One finds an abundance of organic matter and nutrients in the top 12 inches or so of soil built up by years of fallen leaves and twigs. Recent discoveries show that various fungi in the soil are essential to the healthy growth of many of the plants.

AT KUL KAH HAN – The first 150 feet of planting beds, at the edge of the natural forest (beginning near the parking island) is the Damp Forest. This is where we grow plants that appreciate adequate water. The next 125 feet is our Dry Forest area in which we grow native plants that are quite drought tolerant.

IN YOUR GARDEN – Many people live right next to a natural forest edge. In this setting, one can simply clean and clear out any invasive plants, build a few paths going to special places and plant the typical forest ground covers, ferns and flowers.

If you have a few existing trees, you might consider adding a few more to create a grove, plant your groundcovers, flowers and ferns around them and let it speak to you as an area symbolic of the greater forest.